Brade
A vigil held in Santa Ana, California, to honor felines allegedly slain by an accused serial cat killer took a chaotic and violent turn when attendees mistakenly targeted the wrong home. The incident occurred one week after police arrested ALEJANDRO OLIVEROS ACOSTA, 45, suspected of killing dozens of cats in the neighborhood.
Residents reported disturbing details, including one cat found hanging from a tree and another allegedly injected with a lethal substance. Acosta reportedly confessed to the crimes and was released on bail last Thursday, sparking outrage in the community.
During Sunday night’s vigil, a mob surrounded a house across the street from Acosta‘s residence, mistakenly believing it belonged to his brother. The crowd demanded the occupant come out, broke windows, and even pepper-sprayed the homeowner while children watched from inside. The victim, who chose to remain anonymous, clarified through FOX 11 Los Angeles that he is not related to Acosta but is connected to his brother-in-law. He claimed to have had no contact with Acosta since the arrest.
Santa Ana Police arrived over an hour later, declaring the gathering an unlawful assembly. Despite this, the crowd continued chanting and accused the residents of collaborating with the alleged cat killer.
In a statement on X, the Santa Ana Police Department condemned the violence: “While we support the community’s right to peacefully assemble, we will not tolerate acts of violence, vandalism, or any threats to public safety. Any damage to life or property will have consequences.”
The targeted homeowner expressed fear for his family, stating, “There are seven kids in this house, two little babies, one that is autistic. Breaking our fences… pepper-spraying us for no reason. We didn’t know anything about this.”
The Santa Ana Police Department had been investigating multiple reports of cat abuse and killings in the neighborhood for several weeks. Detectives arrested Acosta last Wednesday, booking him on felony charges related to animal cruelty.
Neighbors believe their missing cats may have been victims of Acosta and plan to report them to police. In response to Acosta‘s release on bail, authorities emphasized that bail decisions are protected under the Eighth Amendment and determined by California Penal Code schedules.
The case has drawn national attention, with FOX News Digital reaching out to the Santa Ana Police Department for comment.
**Sources:**
[FOX 11 Los Angeles](https://www.foxla.com/)
[Santa Ana Police Department Statement](https://twitter.com/SantaAnaPD)
